YAKIMA -- More than one member of the 1987-88 Central Washington women's basketball team admitted to memory lapses when asked about the historic team.

"That was, after all,
20 years ago," one of them explained.

True. But closer examination reveals that all of the players, plus the coaches, could be excused for being sketchy on details simply because so much happened to that team that season.

Enough so, in fact, that the
'88 Wildcats will be inducted into the university's athletic hall of fame on Saturday.

"We thought we were going to be pretty good," said Gary Frederick, then the CWU coach and athletic director who of late has overseen the fastpitch team. "We had some good players back from the year before, and we added Sonia Swan, who was the best player in the juco league.

"But we didn't even talk about the national tournament."

Why talk about something no Central women's team had achieved?

The regional powers of the day were Seattle University and Western Washington, though the Vikings were in something of a rebuilding year.

So when the Wildcats launched their season on Nov. 20, 1987 with an 86-65 conquest of Pacific Lutheran, no one felt the earth move.

By March 18, 1988, however, the Wildcats were among the 32 teams in the NAIA national tournament in Kansas City.

Finishing 31-5, it was the only CWU women's team to so qualify.

"I don't remember one specific game from that season," said Robin Carlson Petersen, who then was 6-foot-1 freshman Robin Carlson from West Valley. "Being a freshman, everything was new. But I do remember that the girls on the team were very good."

Especially Swan, who at 5-11 played much taller due to outstanding athleticism. Having played two seasons at Green River Community College after starring at Lincoln High in Tacoma, she would lead Central in scoring (14.6 points a game) while ranking second in rebounding (8.1).

Swan would also earn NAIA All-America honorable mention and leave an imprint indelible enough that she will be inducted into the hall of fame individually.

Lanette Martin, a 5-5 senior guard from Spokane, was the second-leading scorer at 14.0 with Kristelle Arthur, a 5-9 senior from Port Townsend, averaging 12.1 points and a team-high 8.4 boards.

Now Kristelle Arthur Harrington, she lives in Yakima and is an avid golfer. Back then her fraternal twin sister, Rachelle Arthur, was a reserve guard.

Both had starred on Port Townsend's 1984 Class 1A state championship team.

"Just going to Kansas City, the trip out there was a lot of fun," Kristelle Arthur said. "My parents and my grandfather were there. But we were the last ones to play (in the first round), and we were still playing at midnight, I think."

Ah, but getting there -- the journey -- was special. And not just from Ellensburg to K.C.

After early-season losses to Gonzaga, Seattle U. and Western, the Wildcats found their footing. They won 14 straight games heading into the NAIA District I playoffs, which is when the fun really started.

Central opened at home against Simon Fraser, and found itself down by 20 points in the second half. But somehow CWU rallied, and won 74-71 in overtime.

Next up was a best-of-three set with archrival Western, with Game 1 in Ellensburg, and Central fell 88-79. Facing elimination in Bellingham, where the Wildcats had never won, CWU responded with a 79-75 triumph that necessitated a Game 3 in Nicholson Pavilion.

And in that one -- perhaps the team's defining moment -- Central won 77-76.

Still, to get to nationals, there was one more hurdle. The District champs then had to host a Bi-District foe, in this case Warner Pacific College of Portland, and the Wildcats prevailed 82-65.

History had been made. Kansas City beckoned.

"It was one of things you try to shoot for, and it's something you think about sometimes," Frederick said, "but mostly it's just out there someplace in the distance.

"You looked at our team on paper, in comparison with most of the really good teams, and those all had some type of presence inside. We were pretty much a running team (Central averaged 78.1 points a game) and we pressed all the time. We were quick. But when we got to Kansas City, we found out what quick really was."

Meaning CWU's first-round opponent, Union University of Jackson, Tenn. Union won 91-68.

But again, the journey was what made that team and that season a unique experience. And the reunion awaiting the 1988 Wildcats figures also to be special.

"It will be a short trip (chronologically speaking)," said Rachelle Arthur, who as Rachelle Gray will trek to Ellensburg all the way from Virginia Beach, Va. "I'm really looking forward to it although I'll be on crutches -- ironically, from playing basketball."

Petersen, who married Central JV basketballer Ron Petersen, lives in Lake Tapps with her husband and two daughters. She's looking forward to seeing her CWU roommate, Kelly Anderson Knight, who will drive to Ellensburg from her hometown of Colville.

"We're still good buddies," Petersen said. "And I see Nancy Katzer (reserve forward who later became Central's coach) every now and then. I ran into her at Albertson's just the other day."

On Saturday they'll all meet again in Ellensburg. They'll talk, they'll laugh, and they'll relish the unique opportunity to relive history.

Roger Underwood can be reached at 577-7694 or runderwood@yakimaherald.com

1987-88 CWU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ROSTER

Player Height Year High School

Kristelle Arthur 5-9 Sr. Port Townsend

Karri Matau 5-5 Fr. Elma

Karen Curnutt 5-7 Jr. East Valley-Yakima

Kathy Alley 5-7 Sr. Richland

Rachelle Arthur 5-5 Jr. Port Townsend

Deanie Burrous 6-0 Jr. Interlake

Kris Keeney 5-10 Jr. Pasco

Ellen Kernan 5-5 Jr. Kentridge

Sonia Swan 5-11 Jr. Lincoln

Lanette Martin 5-5 Sr. Lewis & Clark

Natalie Long 5-6 Sr. Hanford

Kelly Anderson 5-8 Fr. Colville

Robin Carlson 6-1 Fr. West Valley-Yakima

Nancy Katzer 5-9 Jr. Lindbergh

Laura Juhnke 6-3 So. Steilacoom

Head coach: Gary Frederick. Assistants: Keith Satterfield, Mary Ann McCord.

Starting five: Martin, Long, Swan, K. Arthur, Alley. Top reserves: Keeney, Carlson, R. Arthur.

Statistical leaders: Swan 14.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 48 blks; Martin 14 ppg, 70 assists; K. Arthur 12.1 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 102 steals; Long 9.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg; Alley 8.3 ppg, 133 assists.

Season record: 31-5.

NAIA District I playoffs: Feb. 26, Central Washington 74, Simon Fraser 71 (OT) (at Pacific Lutheran); Feb. 29, Western Washington 88, at Central Washington 79. March 2, Central Washington 79, at Western Washington 75. March 4, at Central Washington 77, Western Washington 76.

NAIA Bi-District playoff: at Central Washington 82, Warner Pacific 65.

NAIA national tournament, Kansas City, Mo.: Union (Tenn.) 91, Central Washington 68.

Player honors -- all-district: Swan, K. Arthur. Coach of the year: Frederick. NAIA All-American: Swan (honorable mention).